Are there any international laws governing unfair competition?

Yes, there are international laws governing unfair competition. Generally, the major international laws enacted to control and deter anti-competitive behavior are the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The TRIPS agreement is an international agreement promoted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its members. The TRIPS agreement puts restrictions on international intellectual property rights as well as defines the standards for enforcing those rights. As part of the agreement, countries are expected to protect their citizens from unfair competition. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an agreement between countries to reduce the production and consumption of substances that are detrimental to the environment. As part of the agreement, countries are expected to agree to eliminate domestic subsidies, such as those that support unfair competition. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is an agreement between countries to reduce tariffs or taxes on goods imported from different countries. This agreement also provides for rules that are designed to prevent countries from engaging in unfair competition practices. In the United States, unfair competition is regulated under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The FCC Act prohibits deceptive practices, false advertising, and other forms of unfair competition. South Carolina has also enacted The Unfair Trade Practices Act, which prohibits unfair methods of competition in trade or commerce. Thus, while there is no single international law governing unfair competition, there are various global agreements that provide for the protection of businesses from unfair competition practices.

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